A lot of the towers in that cluster have pretty high vacancies as they came on line too closely to one another.

High quality buildings have very quick turnover and low vacancy.

I read something the other day that the projected vacancy rate in residential real estate is about 30%, but that's including all the just completed apartments and villas.

Dubai does have a weird real estate market in that a good portion of the real estate is owned by foreigners from other parts of the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq and the 'Stans who launder money into real estate and then just sit on it. They don't even bother to rent it out, which is one reason why rental prices have gone up quite a bit in the last six months. 20% on average.

I wasn't referring to that particular Tower's vacancy, as it was still in the planning phase at the time. I just recall that our market research indicated office vacancy was over 50% at the time and residential was similar.

There's a bunch of free zones. DIFC is a free zone. DAFZA, JAFZA, TECOM, Knowledge Village, Media City, Silicon Oasis, just to name a few.

You fully own your company in the free zone, whereas all commercial enterprises outside the free zone must have a local sponsor who will officially own 51% of the company (though this does not translate into 51% of the profits - it's complicated).

However, free zone companies are prohibited from engaging in trade within Dubai. The free zones are idea for companies wanting a base in the region but where the actual commercial activities occurs elsewhere. Most of the defense contractors have regional hqs in the Dubai free zones and the actual work is in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Sorry for the dude. He shouldn't have attempted to double cross one of the tinpot royals in the UAE.

Then again I'm no more sorry for him than people who get killed in the drug trade in the US, including innocent passerbys. Cities like Baltimore have murder rates above 200 a year, which is more than the entire UAE.

They're not as bad as the ones in Saudi. In Saudi the sky turns bright orange.

In Dubai the sandstorms are mostly dusty, light beige colored hazes that descend over the city. It might irritate your eyes slightly but that seems to be the extent of the effect. Oh, and yes, that it leaves a fine film of dust over everything outdoors (and even indoors).

I am at the Dubai airport, waiting to board a flight to London for a series of business meetings (yep, related to the current crisis. Several of our clients are heavily involved in the Dubai World pending collapse). Then to the States to my wife and baby son for the Christmas holidays. We all return to Dubai, the happy family, in January.

In case some of you haven't noticed, I have not posted on this board since September, save for a thread on Dubai. Finally clued in to that no one seems to like me, and I don't like most of you. This is going to be as close to a farewell thread as I have no intention of ever posting here again.

For those of you who want to quit, it's surprisingly easy. Put it out of your mind for a few days and you'll be shocked at how easy it is to forget that xoxohth even exists. If you do stray here the banality of the posts will make you leave in a hurry.

Last chance at questions/ answers about Dubai or anything else you want to ask. One warning: I will not reveal anything remotely close to my job or my clients' affairs.

Money. I make a shit ton. Plus my housing and school expenses are covered by the company. I fly business all the time. Sweet vaccys in Asia and Europe. We have a maid to do all the grunt work so my wife spends her time with the boys, lunching and staying in shape.

I think I may very well be an expat for life although I'll go wherever the company sends me. It may shock you but we're not materialistic, but we are happy.

Money. I make a shit ton. Plus my housing and school expenses are covered by the company. I fly business all the time. Sweet vaccys in Asia and Europe. We have a maid to do all the grunt work so my wife spends her time with the boys, lunching and staying in shape.

I think I may very well be an expat for life although I'll go wherever the company sends me. It may shock you but we're not materialistic, but we are happy.

DESCRIBE what to do on an overnight layover. i'll get to my AUH airport hotel at about 4pm, and have a 9am flight the next day. so i have some time to go into DXB and see the city. mainly want to do photograph / see architecture. suggested itinerary?